Why the New Frontier for Battle Drones Is Underwater

Summary

WSJ Tech News Briefing: Why the New Frontier for Battle Drones Is Underwater

Episode Release Date: January 6, 2025

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Introduction

In the January 6, 2025, episode of WSJ’s Tech News Briefing, host Julie Chang explores two pivotal topics reshaping the technological landscape: the enhanced use of Apple AirTags for tracking lost luggage and the emerging frontier of underwater battle drones in modern warfare. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the discussions, key insights, and expert analyses presented in the episode.

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Enhancing Luggage Tracking with Apple AirTags

Seamless Integration with Airlines

Julie Chang opens the episode by addressing a common traveler anxiety—lost luggage—and introduces Apple's AirTags as a solution. Alistair McDonald, WSJ’s personal tech columnist, elaborates on how AirTags, powered by Apple’s expansive device network, are transforming luggage tracking.

Optimal Placement for Effective Tracking

At [01:47], McDonald emphasizes the importance of AirTag placement:

“Airtags run by Bluetooth rules, and that basically means it is dictated by the physics of wireless signals. Materials like glass metal can be obstructive to wireless signals.”

He advises travelers to attach AirTags to the sides of their luggage rather than mixing them with clothing to prevent signal interference from materials like metal or glass jar lids.

Leveraging Software Updates

Discussing the latest software enhancements, McDonald highlights the significance of updating Apple devices:

“The latest update 18.2 rolled out the ability to share your airtag location with third parties such as airlines.” [02:40]

This update allows users to generate a web link of their AirTag’s location, which can be shared directly with participating airlines like United, Delta, and British Airways, facilitating quicker retrieval of lost bags.

Airline Participation

When asked about airlines involved, McDonald lists several major carriers:

“Some airlines that have already signed up for this airtags integration are Delta, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, Swissair, Eurowings, British Airways, and Iberia.” [03:34]

Android Alternatives and Other Trackers

Addressing Android users, McDonald explains that while Google’s Find My app offers similar functionalities, Apple’s network remains more extensive due to automatic device integration:

“The Google Find My Network is not as powerful as Apple's Find My Network because all Apple devices are opted into this network privately and automatically.” [03:53]

He also mentions other tracking options from companies like Tile, Pebblebee, and Chipolo, which offer diverse features such as rechargeable batteries and slim designs ideal for items like passports or wallets.

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The New Frontier: Underwater Battle Drones

Shift to Underwater Warfare

Transitioning to the main focus, Julie Chang introduces the burgeoning interest in underwater drones for military applications. Alistair McDonald and Danny Lewis delve into why defense sectors are turning their attention beneath the waves.

Driving Factors Behind Underwater Drone Development

At [06:17], McDonald explains the motivations:

“Navies have started to think about potential common conflicts, particularly in the Asia Pacific, where strategists believe a large component of it would be naval.”

Lewis adds that concerns over subsea infrastructure security, such as cables and pipelines, are prompting investments in advanced underwater surveillance technologies.

Capabilities and Strategic Uses

Underwater drones are primarily being developed for surveillance and intelligence:

“Primarily would be a surveillance intelligence role. For instance, analyzing ship movements and seeing ships on the surface…” [07:50]

These drones can monitor naval activities, map seafloors, and secure harbors, offering strategic advantages without the high costs associated with traditional submarines.

Technological Challenges

Developing underwater drones presents unique challenges compared to their aerial counterparts. At [10:10], McDonald highlights the primary obstacles:

“Radio waves don't really travel underwater, and traditionally submarines have used acoustic communications. It's quite difficult, particularly for a smaller drone.”

This necessitates autonomous operations with periodic surface communications, adding complexity to drone design and functionality.

Advanced Features and Survivability

To meet military demands, these drones must be highly survivable and equipped with superior sensors and cameras:

“They have to be that much more survivable… traveling much further and much deeper. The sensors and the cameras on board are going to be that much more high end.” [08:20]

Leading Developers and Global Engagement

Several major defense contractors are spearheading the development of underwater drones. McDonald lists notable models and their creators:

• Ghost Shark by Anguril for the Australian Navy
• Manta Ray by Northrop Grumman
• Orca by Boeing for the US Navy
• Hearn by BAE Systems

He notes that “every major military power is doing them now,” including Germany, France, South Korea, China, and Russia, signifying a global arms race in underwater drone technology.

Current and Future Prospects

While long-range autonomous underwater drones are still in the developmental phase, existing models offer substantial improvements over previous technologies. These advancements are laying the groundwork for broader military applications and enhanced naval capabilities.

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Conclusion

The episode of Tech News Briefing provides a deep dive into how technology is revolutionizing both everyday experiences and modern warfare. From enhancing the reliability of luggage tracking with Apple AirTags to pioneering the next generation of underwater battle drones, the discussions underscore the rapid pace of technological innovation and its profound implications across various sectors.

Notable Quotes:

• Alistair McDonald on AirTag Placement:
  “Airtags run by Bluetooth rules, and that basically means it is dictated by the physics of wireless signals.” [01:47]

• McDonald on Software Updates:
  “The latest update 18.2 rolled out the ability to share your airtag location with third parties such as airlines.” [02:40]

• Lewis on Underwater Drone Use:
  “Primarily would be a surveillance intelligence role. For instance, analyzing ship movements and seeing ships on the surface…” [07:50]

• McDonald on Communication Challenges:
  “Radio waves don't really travel underwater, and traditionally submarines have used acoustic communications…” [10:10]

This episode highlights the dual impact of consumer and military technology advancements, offering listeners valuable insights into the evolving tech landscape.

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Transcript

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[Julie Chang]

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[Nicole Nguyen]

Foreign.

[Julie Chang]

Welcome to Tech News briefing. It's Monday, January 6th. I'm Julie Chang for the Wall Street Journal. Electronic trackers have been used to find lost luggage for years now. Apple's latest OS updates allow users to share airtag locations with some airlines. We'll tell you why that could help them to find your lost bag. Plus, drones have changed how wars are fought in the sky, why defense companies and navies are betting that the new frontier for drone warfare is underw water. But first, we hope you've never experienced the misfortune of an airline losing your luggage. But if you have tracking devices like Apple, airtags are a way to help ease some of that anxiety. Powered by the vast and visible network of millions of Apple devices, airtags have not only been used to locate lost luggage, they've also helped pinpoint stolen campaign signs and even loved ones with dementia. And airtags can now share a missing bag location with some airlines. Our personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen recently wrote about the best ways to use airtags to get your luggage back, and she joins us now. Nicole, in your column you mentioned that it matters where you put your airtag. Explain that a bit for us.

[Alistair McDonald]

Yeah, so airtags run by Bluetooth rules, and that basically means it is dictated by the physics of wireless signals. Materials like glass metal can be obstructive to wireless signals. So if there's something nearby that is interfering with the airtag's ability to communicate with other devices on the Apple Find My Network that can be iPhones, iPads, or Macs, then it's less likely to give you an accurate signal. So I usually tell people to press their airtag up against the side of their luggage, not mixed in with their clothes, where the signal could be interrupted by a nice glass jar of face cream or something like that.

[Julie Chang]

And people need to be using other devices in order to track their airtags. How important is it for those devices to have, say, the latest os?

[Alistair McDonald]

It's always important to update your Apple devices to the latest software update, to any device to the latest software update for security reasons, but in this case it will give you more features. The latest update 18.2 rolled out the ability to share your airtag location with third parties such as airlines. And some airlines even have have a little portal that can accept that link. United is one of them. And so yes, in the latest iOS 18.2 update, when you go look at the location of a lost airtag, you can generate a link, a web link that shows the location of that air tag. So you can potentially locate your lost luggage before the airlines themselves. And that link expires within seven days and you can see if anyone's actually looked at the link so you can keep tabs on the airline to see if they've been looking at where your luggage actually is.

[Julie Chang]

You mentioned United, but what other airlines are participating in this?

[Alistair McDonald]

So some airlines that have already signed up for this airtags integration are Delta, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, Swissair, Eurowings, British Airways and Iberia. With more to come.

[Julie Chang]

We're talking about iPhones here, but do Androids offer a similar kind of feature?

[Alistair McDonald]

Yes. So there is a Google Find My app and a Google Find My Network that works with all Android devices. So in countries, basically every country except for the United States where Android is more popular, you'd think that that could actually be a great solution. The caveat there is that Android users have to opt in to this setting that allows them to be more discoverable on the Google Find My Network. All of this to say the Google Find My Network is not as powerful as Apple's Find My Network because all Apple devices are opted into this network privately and automatically.

[Julie Chang]

And are there any other trackers that work with these smartphones?

[Alistair McDonald]

Tile makes a tracker which works with a combination of Amazon Echo Sidewalk network that basically takes little wireless signals from ring doorbell cameras. Amazon echoes within the neighborhood to increase the finding power of the Tile network. There are also third party options with Apple's Find My Network and Google's Find My Network built in. So I really love this company called Pebblebee because they make a airtag or Google Find My equivalent with a rechargeable battery. Chipolo is also a really great company that makes these third party devices. They also have a really fun card sized super slim tracker. So if you leave your passport behind often or your wallet then that can be a great solution.

[Julie Chang]

That was WSJ personal tech columnist Nguyen Coming up, why defense companies are building bigger, more autonomous vessels for underwater drone warfare. That's after the break.

[Danny Lewis]

Are you ready to take control of your financial future in 2025? WSJ's yous Money Briefing will answer your questions about achieving your money goals.

[Alistair McDonald]

My score right now, I think, is at a 620, and so I want to improve it to a 750.

[Danny Lewis]

What's coming up that's going to change how easy or difficult the job market is?

[Alistair McDonald]

How long will my money last?

[Ryan Reynolds]

What can I do to make it.

[Nicole Nguyen]

Last as long as possible?

[Danny Lewis]

Catch our series Money Moves for the New Year the week of December 23rd on your money Briefing.

[Julie Chang]

Drones have revolutionized modern warfare in the sky. Now defense companies and navies are betting they can do the same underwater. Underwater drones aren't new. Academics and offshore energy companies have been using them for decades. But now defense companies are developing larger, more autonomous underwater vessels that can travel longer distances and do more. WSJ reporter Alistair McDonald has been following this, and he spoke with our colleague Danny Lewis. Here's their conversation.

[Danny Lewis]

Alistair, why are defense companies and navies now eyeing underwater drones?

[Nicole Nguyen]

Yeah, well, underwater drones have been around for a long time. They've been developed a lot for commercial uses and academic uses, and even navies have used them for specific tasks, in particular mine clearance. But more recently, navies have started to think about potential common conflicts. And one of those potential coming conflicts could be in the Asia Pacific, where strategists believe a large component of it would be naval. And then secondly, there's been a lot of concerns about the vulnerability of subsea infrastructure, so cables and pipelines, etc. So that's another reason to have these assets this time. And at the same time, shipbuilders have struggled to build submarines on time and on budget. So this is a much cheaper way of doing at least one of the roles that a submarine can do just.

[Danny Lewis]

To go a little bit deeper into it. What kinds of activities are authorities now looking at using underwater drones for?

[Nicole Nguyen]

Primarily would be a surveillance intelligence role. For instance, analyzing ship movements and seeing ships on the surface and analyzing which navies they're from and what they are, and also looking at harbors and mapping out sea floors, etc.

[Danny Lewis]

Like you mentioned, companies have used underwater drones for decades now to map the seafloor. Same with scientists. We've seen underwater drones, you know, exploring wrecks like the Titanic. What's different about designing them for defense and intelligence purposes?

[Nicole Nguyen]

They have to be that much more survivable, to use the military term, particularly the current crop of Autonomous underwater vehicles looking at them traveling for much further than a commercial company would really need. They're looking at them going much deeper as well. So it's that and also the sensors and the cameras on board are going to be that much more high end than those on a drone that would be used in commercial circles.

[Danny Lewis]

What are some examples of some of the underwater drones that are coming into play for navies and who's building them?

[Nicole Nguyen]

Yeah, so they've got very evocative names like Ghost Shark, which has been produced by a US company called Anguril for the Australian Navy, and Manta Ray, which is Norfolk Grumman. And then you have Boeing that's set to deliver long range autonomous vehicles for the US Navy. And that one's called Orca. And then BAE Systems, a British company's got a one called Hearn, which it's touting to navies probably as we speak. But literally every major military power is doing them now. The Germans have recently fielded one, the French are working on one, the South Koreans are certainly working on one. The Chinese have developed quite a few, the Russians have developed a few. So most sort of major military powers are developing these. It's sort of early doors in the long range ones. We're talking here about extra large autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles. They're developing them, but they're not there yet that shorter distance drones are, and they've been used for a while. But the long range things that we're talking about now are still being developed.

[Danny Lewis]

Effectively, aside from the obvious difference between something that's traveling through the air and something that's traveling underwater, what are some of the challenges that drone makers are facing with making these new generations of underwater drones?

[Nicole Nguyen]

Yeah, so the obvious big difference is that it's much easier to communicate with a drone in the air than it is in the sea. Radio waves don't really travel underwater, and traditionally submarines, for instance, have used acoustic communications, but it's quite difficult, particularly for a smaller drone. So that's the, the primary thing is that communications will be much more difficult, which is one of the reasons these things are autonomous. And so the way they would communicate is they'd rise up to the surface and they would put out their mast and communicate in that way. The other thing is that there's potential to knock in things underwater as well, like fishing lines and fishing nets and animals for that matter. And of course there's nobody on board an autonomous drone to actually fix it. And also there's some very high end aerial drones that can go to very very high altitudes, and they have to be equipped for that and designed for that. But any underwater drone has to be able to take a lot of pressure.

[Julie Chang]

That was WSJ reporter Alistair McDonald speaking with Danny Lewis. And that's it for Tech News Briefing. Today's show was produced by me, Julie Chang, with supervising producer Katherine Millsop and deputy Editor Scott Salloway. We'll be back this afternoon with TNB Tech Minute. Thanks for listening.